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E. A. SPERBY.

STABILIZING GYHQSCOPE.

APPLlcATIou min Auml. 19u.

1 ,$312,085. Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

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v APPLICATION FILED MIG-II. i911. 1,312,085. Patented Aug. 5,1919.

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E. A. SPERHY. STABILIZING GYaoscoPE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-1I. |911.

1,312,085, Patend Aug. 5,1919.

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INVENTOR f/Mm HSPs/mx unirsi) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER A. SPERRY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK7 ASSIGNOR TO THE SPERRY GYROSCOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STABILIZING-GYROSCOIE.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

To all whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELMnn A. SPERRY, a. citizen of the United States of America, residing at 1505 Albermarle road, Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stabilizing-Gyroscopes, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to gyroscopes for controlling the roll of ships. More particularly the invention is an improvement on the general type of gyroscopie apparatus shown in applicants U. S. Patent No. 1,232,619, wherein a large or main gyroscope is used for exerting the stabilizing stresses on the ship; while a much Smaller and more sensitive gyroscope or its equivalent is used for controlling t ie precession of the main gyruscope.

In systems of this character, much trouble has arisen in keeping the main or stabilizing gyroscope in exact synehronism with the rolling of the ship. It has been found, especially when the sea is comparatively smooth, that the main gyroscope will very often precess for unequal distances from each side of the normal or centralized position, so that when a larger wave than usual strikes the ship the gyroscope processes against the fixed stop before the ship has completed the roll, thereby allowing an appreciable rolling motion to be imparted by the wave.

The main obiect of this invention is to synchronize more effectively the precession of the main gyroscope with the rolling of the ship and to cause its procession on the two sides of the centralized position in approximately equal amounts. Preferably this object is accomplished by altering the centralized position of the auxiliary or control gyroscope with respect to the control contacts thereon.

Referring to the drawings, in which are now considered the preferred forms of the invention, are shown:

Figure 1 is a plan View partly in section of the auxiliary or control gyroscope.

Fig. 2 a side elevation partly in section of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing one method of controlling the main gyroscope from the auxiliary gyrosco e, and thc main electrical connections for a justing the aux* iliary gyroscope.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation on a very much reducedscale compared to the scale of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of the main or stabilizing` gyroscope. As actually built, of course, this gyroscope is many times as large as the auxiliary gyroscope.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the limit switches on the main gyrosoope.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of`a modified form of control gyro.

Fig. 8 is a detail of one of the pawls on the auxiliary gyroscope.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the damping means used on the auxiliary' gyroscope.

The auxiliary gyroscope G shown for illustration is mounted on a base plate 1, to which is bolted the vertical ring 2. Within said ringr are vertical bearings 3 and 4 which support the gyro rotor casing or fralne 5 for precession about the vertical axis. The said frame is shown as comprising a ring 6 Within which are placed the normally horizontal bearings 7 and 8 for the rotor 13. A light casing 9 is shown secured to said ring. The rotor is preferably electrically driven, having mounted on the shaft 14 thereof an armature 10 of an electrical motor, the field poles 11 and windings 11 being supported from a frame 12. Said frame is shown as secured to ring 6 by extensions 80 and 81 (see Fig. 3). The rotor 13 is shown as secured to the lower end of rotor shaft 14 and over-laps in part said frame 12. Secured to ring 6 or other part-of the-gyro casing is a contact member 15 to which are secured one or more contacts 16 and 17. The said contacts are preferably resilient and stand out a short distance beyond member 15 so that they Will be brought into contact with the relatively fixed contacts 18 and 19 before offering any appreciable resistance to the procession of the gyroscope. The said contacts 18 and 19 are preferably adjustable by being made in the forni of set screws threaded in the fixed support 2O and held in any given position by thumb nut 21.

Resilient or yielding means of any suitable character are secured to the gyroscope to cause it to centralize or normally settle in a predetermined position. As shown, said resilient means comprise a plurality of springs 22 vand 23 supported between relatively fixed abutments 24 and 25 and a projection 261 secured to ring 6. The said springs are normally so positioned as to maintain the contacts 16 and 17 on the gyroscope midway between the ixed contacts 18 and 19. The abutments 24 and 25 may be adj ustably threaded in members 26 and 26 which in turn are movably or adjustably mounted with respect to base plate l.

lut will be readily aiparent that by moving ihmbcrs 26 aiitl 2 in one direction or the other, that the relative position of the contacts 13 and 19 and of the normally centralized position of the -gyroscope will be altered. For this purpose menibers 26 and 26 are shown as threaded upon a rod 27 which is journaled in brackets 28, 29, 30 and 30 on the base plate. Said rod is provided adjacent itsl ends n ith oppositely acting ratchet wheels 31, 31. A pawl 32 to cooperate with said ratchet 31 is shown as pivoted at 33 to a lever 34 which is normally held in a retracted position in engagement with adjustable stop by the spring 36. Movable core 3T of the solenoid 38 or like electro-magnetic means, is pivotally connected at 39 to lever 31. When said solenoid is energized Athe core is drawn inwardly thereby rotating ratchet 31 through one or more teeth. Pawl 32 4may be similarly actuated from one solenoid 38 (see Figs. 1, 3 and e).

Preferably fixed stops 135 are provided in addition to the member 15 to limit the movement of the auxiliary gyroscope and relieve said member of the greater part of the strain.

The control gyro is also preferably pro vided with a means for preventing undue oscillation or chattering of the control contacts. This may consist of a dash pot or the like having the piston 71 thereof connected to a bell crank lever 72 (see 'Fig 9). The upstanding arm of saidlever has a slot 7 3 which engages over a pin 74 on the ring 6.

The main gyroscope vin Fig. 5 is shown as nclosed within a casing 40 pivoted upon horizontal trunnions 41 journaled in brackets 42. The tnu'nions preferably extend athwartshipsfasindicated by the arrow F'in 5 showing the fore and 'aft line of thes ip. The rotor in the form illustrated is journaled 4upon a vertical axis within bearings43. For controlling the precession of said gyroscope an electrically driven translating device or motor 44 'is provided which is controlled from the auxiliary gyroscope directly or indirectly through va relay 46 (see Fig. 4) from the contacts 16, 17, '18 and` 19 on the auxiliary gyroscope. As shownin the wiring diagram, the armature 47 of the motor is reversed with respect to the shunt iield48. The said motor is shown as geared "to the gyroscope through a worm 49mounted on an extension 47 of the motor shaft. A worm Wheel 5() meshes with said worm and a 'gear 51 behind the worin wheel and secured thereto meshes with large gear 52 on or secured to the cas ingl 40. Thrust bearings 53 are shown as provided for worin shaft 47 to take up the thrust oi thc gyroscope when the motor is cut off or when the gyroscopc tends lo prccess faster than tho motor is running. When either of these conditions arise a brake 55 may also be applied. As lshown in Fig. Ll this operation is effected by a solenoid 56 preferably placed in series with the armature 47 of the motor 44. The coil or solenoid normally acts to hold the brake in the retracted position, but when the motor current or circuit is shut off or when its value falls below a predetermined amount due to thc motor exceeding a predetermined .speed` a spring 6() opposed to the solenoid applies the brake band. Limit switches 61 and G1 are preferably provided to throw out motor 44 when the gyroscope has precessed to about (i0Q on either sido of the normal position. The said switches are normally held closed by spring 62, but each switch is opened when the lug G3 strikes arm 64 pivoted at (55 upon which the switch is supported. For controlling the solenoids 38 and 33 contacts 66, 67 are mounted adjacent the gyroscope and coperating contacts 68 secured to the gyroscope. Contacts 66 and 67 are shown as comprising two parts a and so that contact 68 is adapted to cpmpletea circuit between the parts a, b thereby avoiding the necessity of carrying an electrical circuit into the oscillating gyroscope. Contacts 66 and 67 are preferably positioned an equal distance on each side of the central or vertical position of the gyroscope and at a less angle to the vertical than the limit switch so that if the gyroscope swings to the extreme position in either direction, two impulses will be sent from each contact, as the gyroscope paes itgoiiig to and returning from the extreme position. This will, of course,A move corresponding ratchet 31 through two notches. A different means for shifting the effective relation between the centralizing springs and the control contacts of the auxiliary gyroscope is shown in Fig. 7. Instead of altering the tension of the springs, the relatively stationary contacts are ad]usted. The gyroscope 9 is shown as centralized by a tension spring 122 extending between a pin 123 on base l and ring 6 on the gyrosco e.

lphe bracket 100 which supports the relatively stationary contacts 18 and 19 is'movably mounted on the base plate and is threaded upon threaded portion 1.01 of the rod 27. The said rod is shown as journaled in brackets 30 on the base plate and is provided with. oppositely acting ratchet wheels 131 and. 131 as in the other form. The said ratchets are operated from solenoids 138, 138 by means of oppositely acting pawls 132 and 132 as before.

imacat 1t will `readily be seenl that theA same net result is aocomplishedjn. this ferm ofthe invention as in the principal :tering` since in each instance when the-contact on the main gyroscope is completed, Ythecontrol gyroscope must demora work to complete the Contact either by moving through a greater distance or by acting against an increased ytension of the spring.

The operation of this. invention is as follows: V-'

If the sea is fairly calmV and lthe main gyroscope is oscillating only slightly in each direction on equal sides of the .vertical position, no adjustment of the oentraliz'ingV springs will take place on the gyroscope. If, however, themain roscope gradua ly works over into one or gtrlie other quadrants of oscillation, the contact 68 Will-complete a circuit between contacts a and b of one or the other of the pairs of contacts 66 or 67 thereby causing movement of the supports of the centralizing springs in the direction to cause the auxiliary roscope to normally centralize at a further istance from thefcontact Which causes procession of the main yroscope in the direction then occurring, so t at on the next roll the other contact will be completed sooner and the first mentioned contact later, thereby tending to cause the main gyroscope to work back to its original position. If it has not done so by the next roll in that direction, the solenoid will again cause further adjustment of the spring. This cyclel will be repeated until the main gyroscope is brought back to its normal osition. If then it should start to work ack in the other direction, a reverse action Will take place.

In accordance With the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus, which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interferin with the more general results outlined, an the invention extends to such use.

The application of this invention to rolling a ship by the gyroscopic system will be evident to those skilled in the art. A reversing switch 110 is shown in Fig. 4 between the auxiliary gyroscope Gr and relay 46 to indicate this possible use of the apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination With a main and an auxiliary gyroscope, of connecting means between said twogyroscopes whereby the latter controls the procession of the former, and means responsive to the position of the former for altering the relation of said means to the auxiliary gyroscope.

2, The combination with a gyroscope adaptedto remain normally in a predetermined position, resilient means for opposing movement in either direction away from said normal position, and a means for shifting the positionof said resilient means to alter the said normal position of the gyroscope.

3. The combination with a gyroscope supported orprecession about an axis, spring means connected thereto for centralizing the gyroscope in a predetermined position, contacts thereon and on a relatively stationary part and means for altering the relative position of said centralized position and the contacts on the stationary part.

4. The combination with a body subject to oscillation, of a stabilizing gyroscope therefor, means for controlling the precession of said gyroscope, a device responsive to rolling of the body for governing said means, and means responsive to the amplitude of precession for altering the governing action of said device.

5. The combination with a main and an auxiliary gyroscope, of connecting means between said two gyroscopes whereby the latter controls the precession of the former, means responsive to the amplitude of precessional oscillation of the formel` in one direction, for changing the controlling action of the latter in that direction.

6. The combination with a' gyroscope mounted for precession about an axis, of governing contacts mounted about said axis and damping means also operable about said axis of the gyroscope.

7. The combination with a main and an auxiliary gyroscope, contacts operable by said auxiliary gyroscope for controlling the main gyroscope and dampin means on said auxiliary gyroscope for ren ering stable the operation of said contacts.

8. The combination with a body subject to oscillation, of a stabilizing gyroscope therefor, means for controlling the procession of said gyroscope, a device responsive to rolling of the body for governing said means, and means responsive to the amplitude of precession of said gyroscope in either direction for retarding the governing action of said device in the indicated directlon.

9. The combination with a g'yroscope, of means for oiering resistance to the precession thereof in either direction and means :for varying the resistance offered by said first means whereby a greater resistance is offered to precession in one direction than in the other direction.

10. The combination with a body subject to oscillation, of a stabilizing gyroscope therefor', means for controlling the precas- Ision of said gyroseo e, a device Vressponsive to rolling of the bo y for governing said means, :i limit contact on said gyroseope for f rendering said means inoperative, and another Contact on said gyroscope at a less angular distance from the normal position thereof for altering the governing action of Said device.

11. The combination with a gyroseope mounted for pi'eeession about an axis, of governing contacts mounted about said axis, a eentralizng spring acting on said gyroscope about sa'id axis, a movable support for the free end of said spring and means for adjusting the position of said support.

1Q. The combination with a gyroscope mounted for preeession about an axis, of a movable support adjacent said gyroseope, governing contacts mounted thereon and on said support, and means for adjusting the position of said support.

'16. 'Phe 'eombinati'on with a gyroseope mounted Iilofr 'recession about an axis, of governin een Mits invented about said axis, a eentt'a 'Zing 'splfig adti'ng n said gyioscopi@ aboutsaid 'xis, a movable sup'p'ort for the ifree 'ends of Suid spring, a rod on which said support is threaded, an electro-mag netie means Erable from a distance for turning the ro in either direction to adjust th'e 'position of the support.

14. The combination with a main and an auxiliary yroscope, of Iconnecting electromeohanie: ineens between saicl two gyroscopies whereby the 'latter controls the preeessiofn of the former, and edtjaetmeans responsive to the position of the former for altering Athe relation of said means to the auxiliary lgyioseo e.

In testimony vvereof I have affixed my signature.

EIJME-R A. SPERRY.

oples o! this patent may be obtained for five cents eah, by addmsiny the commissioner of Patents5 Washington, l1. 0." 

